Loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta)
Kingdom: Animalia
Class: Reptilia
Order: Testudines
Family: Cheloniidae
Listing Status: and
General Information
Loggerheads were named for their relatively large heads, which support powerful jaws and enable them to feed on hard-shelled prey, such as whelks and conch. The carapace (top shell) is slightly heart-shaped and reddish-brown in adults and sub-adults, while the plastron (bottom shell) is generally a pale yellowish color. The neck and flippers are usually dull brown to reddish brown on top and medium to pale yellow on the sides and bottom. Mean straight carapace length of adults in the southeastern U.S. is approximately 36 in (92 cm); corresponding weight is about 250 lbs (113 kg).
Population detail
The FWS is currently monitoring the following populations of the Loggerhead sea turtle
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This map represents our best available information about where a species is currently known to or or is believed to occur; however, it should NOT be used as an official species list for Section 7 Consultation purposes. To obtain an official species list for this purpose, please visit the Information, Planning, and Conservation (IPaC) System (click here: http://ecos.fws.gov/ipac)
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Population location:
Listing status: Threatened
This species is listed wherever it is found, but- States/US Territories in which this population is known to or is believed to occur: Alabama , California , Connecticut , Delaware , Florida , Georgia , Hawaii , Louisiana , Maine , Maryland , Massachusetts , Mississippi , New Hampshire , New Jersey , New York , North Carolina , Oregon , Puerto Rico , Rhode Island , South Carolina , Texas , Virginia , Virgin Islands
- US Counties in which this population is known to or is believed to occur: View All
- USFWS Refuges in which this population is known to occur:
ARANSAS NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE, ARCHIE CARR NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE, BACK BAY NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE, BLACKBEARD ISLAND NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE, BON SECOUR NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE
... Show All Refuges
- Countries in which the this population is known to occur: Albania, Algeria, Angola, Australia, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belize, Brazil, British Virgin Islands, Cape Verde, Cayman Islands, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Cyprus, Dominican Republic, Egypt, Eritrea, France, Greece, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Guam, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Indonesia, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Lebanon, Libya, Madagascar, Mexico, Montserrat, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, New Caledonia, Nicaragua, Northern Mariana Islands, Oman, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Puerto Rico, Saint Lucia, Senegal, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Tunisia, Turkey, Turks and Caicos Islands, United States, Uruguay, U.S. Pacific Outlying Islands, U.S. Virgin Islands, Venezuela, Yemen
- For more information: http://www.fws.gov/northflorida
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Population location: Western North Atlantic population
Listing status: Threatened
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Population location: North Pacific population
Listing status: Under Review
| Status | Date Listed | Lead Region | Where Listed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 07/28/1978 | Southeast Region (Region 4) | ||
| 10/24/2011 | Southeast Region (Region 4) | Western North Atlantic DPS | |
| Southeast Region (Region 4) | North Pacific DPS |
» Candidate Information
Current Candidate Status
» Recovery
Recovery Plan Information Search| Date | Title | Plan Action Status | Plan Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01/12/1998 | Recovery Plan for U.S. Pacific Populations of the Loggerhead Turtle | View Implementation Progress | Final Revision 1 |
| 01/16/2009 | Recovery Plan for the Northwest Atlantic Population of the Loggerhead Sea Turtle (Caretta caretta); Second Revision | View Implementation Progress | Final Revision 2 |
| Date | Citation Page | Title | Document Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01/16/2009 | 74 FR 2995 | Recovery Plan for the Northwest Atlantic Population of the Loggerhead Sea Turtle | |
| 05/30/2008 | 73 FR 31066 31067 | Recovery Plan for the Northwest Atlantic Population of the Loggerhead Sea Turtle |
| Date | Title |
|---|---|
| 08/27/2007 | Loggerhead sea turtle 5-yr review |
» Critical Habitat
| Date | Citation Page | Title | Document Type | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11/29/1978 | 43 FR 55806 55809 | Proposed Determination of Critical Habitat for the for Kemp's Ridley and Loggerhead Sea Turtles | Proposed Rule | Not Required |
| 10/04/1978 | 43 FR 45905 45909 | Proposed Determination of Critical Habitat for Kemp's Ridley and Loggerhead Sea Turtles | Proposed Rule | Not Required |
To learn more about critical habitat please see http://criticalhabitat.fws.gov
» Conservation Plans
| HCP Plan Summaries |
|---|
| Crum, Blaine & Linda (ABM) |
| D.F. Investments |
| FML81A, LLC (Greg Miller) |
| FML81,LLC (Greg MIller) |
| Indian River County Sea Turtle |
» Petitions
| Date | Citation Page | Title | Finding |
|---|---|---|---|
| 03/16/2010 | 75 FR 12598 12656 | Proposed Listing of Nine Distinct Population Segments of Loggerhead Sea Turtles as Endangered or Threatened | |
| 03/11/2008 | 73 FR 12941 | 90-day Finding for a Petition to Reclassify the Loggerhead Turtle in the Western North Atlantic Ocean | |
| 03/05/2008 | 73 FR 11849 11851 | 90-day Finding for a Petition to Reclassify the Loggerhead Turtle in the Western North Atlantic Ocean | |
| 11/16/2007 | 72 FR 64585 64587 | 90-day Finding for a Petition to Reclassify the Loggerhead Turtle in the North Pacific Ocean as a Distinct Population Segment with Endangered Status and to Designate Critical Habitat | |
| 09/15/2003 | 68 FR 53947 53955 | Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; 12-month Finding on a Petition to List the Northern and Florida Panhandle Loggerhead Sea Turtle (Caretta caretta) Subpopulations as Endangered |
» Life History
No Life History information has been entered into this system for this species.
» Other Resources
NatureServe Explorer Species Reports -- NatureServe Explorer is a source for authoritative conservation information on more than 50,000 plants, animals and ecological communtities of the U.S and Canada. NatureServe Explorer provides in-depth information on rare and endangered species, but includes common plants and animals too. NatureServe Explorer is a product of NatureServe in collaboration with the Natural Heritage Network.
ITIS Reports -- ITIS (the Integrated Taxonomic Information System) is a source for authoritative taxonomic information on plants, animals, fungi, and microbes of North America and the world.
